19 Feb Second Chance: What Breed is That Dog? + Emily Scott Robinson in Concert 3/23!
For 30+ years, the Animal Resource Center and Shops of Second Chance Humane Society have been serving Ouray, San Miguel, and Montrose Counties. Adoption hours are from Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. View shelter pets and services online at www.secondchancehumane.org.
“Connecting Pets, People, and Community While Saving Lives.”
View shelter pets and services online: www.adoptmountainpets.org.
Please reach out to our dog den staff with any questions about these deserving dogs. animalcare@secondchancehumane.org
Donate here or mail to: PO Box 2096, Ridgway, CO, 81432.
Go here for more options from Second Chance.
Second Chance is often asked “What breed is that dog?” We usually answer with a shrug and a best guess. Like all shelters, most canine residents are mixed breeds who came to us as strays, surrenders, or transfers from other shelters.
Multiple studies have shown that professionals get it wrong when guessing dog breeds. In one study, 16 experienced shelter workers (including four veterinarians) were asked to visually identify the breeds of 120 dogs. Those assessments were then compared against DNA profiles for each dog. And guess what? The experts were wrong about 75% of the time. Genetic Staffordshire terriers (commonly called pit bulls) were correctly identified by the shelter staff about half the time. For dogs with stocky bodies and blocky heads, calling them “pitties” can harm their chances of being adopted.
Honestly, Second Chance is no more accurate than the study participants. Our long-time resident, Roscoe, is a dog we have all gotten to know well. On his profile, we’ve called him a shepherd mix, a kelpie mix, and an Australian shepherd mix. To improve his chances of being adopted, we ordered his DNA results.And we ran a contest on social media to see what our followers would guess. Many entries included Rottweiler and German Shepherd (which are absent in his results). Turns out Roscoe is 60% Border Collie and Australian Cattle dog (which gives a clue to his intelligence), with the other breeds (in order): Pembroke Welsh Corgi; Pit Bull; Labrador Retriever; and Australian Shepherd.
Then, we have Susie and Latte. Although they look like black lab mixes, we have evidence that is not the case. One of Susie’s puppies had a DNA test, which came back with a mix of husky, German Shepherd, border collie, and pit bull. So, while they may look like labs, they are a mix of other smart, trainable breeds.
You may wonder, if DNA testing is more accurate than staff assessment, why not implement DNA testing for all dogs?
Test accuracy depends on the quality of the sample. Most take-home DNA tests require a cheek swab sample. If you’ve ever tried to give your dog a pill, you know how difficult it can be to get something into the mouth of a squirming pup. Now multiply that by the number of dogs that arrive at the shelter each year, and you can see how a DNA test may not be possible.
But the cost of tests is the biggest hurdle. DNA testing is just not in our budget. Our priority is veterinary care, behavior training, and getting dogs adopted.
The lack of accuracy when trying to ID a dog is leading some shelters to move away from assigning breed labels whose parentage is a mystery. The shelters may say that a given dog looks like a collie, or a lab, but will not attach definitive labels.
A dog’s genetic makeup is not a magic way to predict who they are. The secret to learning about a dog’s personality is simple: throw them a ball, take them for a walk, or snuggle up on the couch with them. See how they interact with you and your family. The actual DNA that defines who they are will be much less important than the tail wags and love they provide.
Roscoe is still searching for his perfect person. He’s about 2 years old, smart, handsome, healthy, and house-trained. His adopter will get three free sessions with dog trainer Bob Hennessy.
Upcoming:
3/23/25
An Evening With Emily Scott Robinson
GET TICKETS NOW
Emily Scott Robinson, courtesy Emily.
Second Chance Humane Society presents An Evening with Emily Scott Robinson at the historic Sheridan Opera House in Telluride. The event takes place Sunday, March 23.
Doors at 7:00 PM, SHOW at 8:15 PM
All proceeds from the event will help support animal welfare in the region through Second Chance’s programs and services.
“I’m honored that Second Chance approached me to ask if I’d be willing to play a benefit concert to thank their patrons and help raise money for their mission! Second Chance does wonderful and important work in rescuing animals in our community and helping them find their forever homes. I’m excited to lend my voice to this cause!”
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